Ulysse Nardin

Owned by Kering Group from 2014 until 2022, when CEO Patrick Pruniaux led a management buyout — the first of its kind in Swiss haute horlogerie history. Ulysse Nardin, together with sister manufacture Girard-Perregaux, exited Kering to become a privately owned, independent entity under the Sowind Group. The manufacture in Le Locle operates with its own silicon component production (Sigatec), enamel dial manufacture (Donzé Cadrans), and in-house R&D. Included here for its extraordinary horological heritage, innovation, and genuinely restored independence.

Founded in 1846 in Le Locle by Ulysse Nardin himself, the manufacture has continuously reset the boundaries of watch engineering for 180 years. A rare gem in watchmaking: fully independent and fully integrated, creating all critical components in-house for unmatched quality and creative freedom. Three chapters define its history. Chapter One (1846–1982): Ulysse Nardin became the world's leading producer of marine deck chronometers — supplying over 50 navies — with 77% of all marine chronometers awarded by the Neuchâtel Astronomical Observatory coming from UN. Gold medal at the London World Fair 1862; workshop established at Rue du Jardin 5, Le Locle in 1865, still its address today. Chapter Two (1983–2000): Rolf W. Schnyder and Ludwig Oechslin revived the brand with the Trilogy of Time (Astrolabium Galileo Galilei, Planetarium Copernicus, Tellurium Johannes Kepler), the San Marco — first wristwatch minute repeater with Jacquemart automata (1989) — the world's first bi-directional perpetual calendar (1996), and the Moonstruck tide indicator (2009). Chapter Three (2001–present): the 2001 Freak introduced silicon components to watchmaking — initially unconventional, later adopted across the industry.

In 2006 UN and Mimotec co-founded Sigatec for silicon micromechanics; in 2011 acquired Donzé Cadrans for Grand Feu enamel dials. Four savoir-faire pillars: Integrated Manufacture; Silicon Technology (including the artistic Blast Free Wheel Marquetry, silicon as pure art suspended weightlessly over blue marquetry); Enamelling (preserved through generations at Donzé Cadrans); and Micro-Painting & Engraving (the Blast Tourbillon Dragon's rose gold dragon demands four days — three for hand-engraving, one for painting gradated red, orange and yellow shades).

GPHG 2015 Tourbillon (Ulysse Anchor); GPHG 2023 Iconic Watch (Freak ONE).

Current collections: Freak (X, ONE, S), Blast, Diver, Marine, Classico, and Haute Horlogerie.